Step-ladder



0. BRAND.

STEP LADDER.

(No Model.)

No. 311,949. Patented Feb. 10, 1885.

lUrvirnn h'ra'rns Parent tries.

CHARLES BRAND, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATIOH forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,949, dated February 10, 1885.

Application filed August 1, 1884. (No model.)

brace by which the the folding legs are held open when in use, and .in a swinging platform or basket-holder pi voted to the legs of the ladder and adapted to fall to horizontal position as the legs are spread and folded up as they are closed.

The object of my invention is to provide a step-ladder having a strong and serviceable brace and an automatieally-acting platform, to be used as a holder for a basket in picking fruit, or for a paintcan, or for other similar purposes.

Referring to the accompanying drawings .for a more complete explanation of my invention, Figure l is a perspective view of my stepladder. Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the ladder closed. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the braces G and D.

The ladder consists of the usual step portion, A, and the legs'B, pivoted above in'any suitable manner.

Pivoted to the inner back edges of the step portion A, at about the middle of its length, are two metal strips, (3, converging toward the center of the space between the leg and step portion, and having their ends bent parallel to each other and in contact.

Pivoted in a corresponding position to the legs 13 are two metal strips. 1), converging to ward the center, and having their ends bent parallel and overlapping the ends of the strips 0. These ends are all secured by a pivotbolt, E. The ends of the strips C are pro vided with notches c, with which hooks or catches (1, formed on the ends of the strips D, are adapted to engage. When the legs are spread, the pivoted strips assume a horizontal position and the hooks d'fall into and engage with the notches 0, whereby a brace is effected, and until this engagement is relieved the legs cannot close. When desired to be closed, the

brace is raised slightly to effect a disengagement of the hooks from the notches. The movement of the legs toward the step portion raises the pivoted brace in such a manner that the strips lie, as shown in 2, in an up right position, the brace-stripsD overlapping strips 0. This forms a simple and effective brace for the ladder, and one which will not' get out of order and will always be sure in its operation.

F is the platform, forming abasket-holder. This isjournaled or pivoted by its sides upon a transverse shaft, G, secured near the upper portion of thelegs B. The upper portion beyond the pivot is heavier than the lower portion, so that it is adapted to fall down to a hori2ontal position, in which the inner ends of the platform extend toward the step portion of the ladder. Upon the inner ends are secured the inclined planes'f, between which extends a transverse bar, I-I. Upon the back of the step portion is a transverse strip, I, and

between two of the steps is a vertical strip, J. \Vhen the legs are moved to a folded position, the inclined planes move under the transverse strip 1-, whereby the inner ends of the basketholder are depressed until the transverse bar H comes in contact with the vertical strip J whereby the inner ends of the holder are carri ed down as the legs are folded until the basket-holder is raised to an approximatelyvertical position and about parallel with the legs, between the sides of which it folds out of the way. As the legs are opened again, the basket-holder being relieved on its lower ends drops down to a horizontal position, in which it is held by reason of its inner ends extending under he transverse strip I on the step portion.

The advantage of having a basketholder fold upwardly is that being near the top of ing legs open when in use, consisting of the strips 0, pivoted to the step portion and converging rearwardly, the strips D, pivoted to the legs and converging forwardly, a pivotconnection between themeeting ends of the strips, and means, as described, for effecting an engagement between the ends to hold them in position, substantially as herein described.

2. Inastep-1adder,abraceto hold the folding legs open when in use, consisting of the strips 0, pivoted to the step portion and converging rearwardly, the strips D, pivoted to the legs and converging forwardly, a pivot-connection between the meeting ends of the strips, and

the means by which they engage each other in "position, consisting of the notches c instrips gstantially as hereindescribed.

3. In a step-ladder having the step portion A and swinging legs B, the platform or basket-holder F, pivoted on a cross-shaft, G, between the legs, the inclined planes fon the inner ends of the platform, and cross-bar H, the cross-strip l on the step portion, under which the inner ends of the platform find support, and against which the inclined planes bear in folding, and the Vertical strip J, with which the' cross-bar H comes in contact, and by which the platform is folded, substantially as herein described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES BRAND.

Witnesses: G. D. (JoLE, J. H. BLooD. 

